Car burglars hit St. Charles hard, sheriff reports

St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne sent out a warning to residents Wednesday after receiving reports of a rash of automobile break-ins during the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Champagne said that cars were burglarized at six different locations on the west bank of the parish sometime between 1 and 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

Cars on Davis Drive in Luling, Primrose Drive in Boutte, Sugarhouse Road in Luling, St. Anthony Street in Luling and Audubon Street in Paradis were struck, he said. Stolen items included an iPod, a cell phone, a digital camera, a laptop, prescription medications and even a Bible.

Champagne said all of the vehicles had been left unlocked.

"Information that we have indicates that all of the break-ins were likely connected," Champagne wrote. "At least one perpetrator was on foot going from car to car looking for unlocked vehicles, while an accomplice was nearby in a get-away vehicle. It is quite possible that the perpetrators pulled on many automobile doors which were locked in these areas."

Champagne said there was another incident on the east bank, where a resident reported seeing a person looking into the window of a neighbor's car at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, but he did not believe this to be a related case.

Champagne urged residents to lock their vehicles. He also asked if anyone may have surveillance video of the burglaries to please call the sheriff's office at 985.783.1135.